From piano bars to popular drinking holes in Neutral Bay
The pubs, hotels and bars of Neutral Bay make up a huge part of our local north shore community, history and identity.
My father established Home Property Agents in the area over thirty years ago but our little slice of the lower north shore was the place to be, even before those days. There has never been a shortage of trendy places to enjoy a drink and catch up with friends. Today, we share our favourite drinking holes, from long-existing establishments to new and popular places.
The reign of the piano bar
Back in the swinging sixties, Neutral Bay was home to The Music Hall. After buying the old Southern Cross Cinema on Military Road, owners George and Lorna Miller used the space to recreate a Victorian era ‘palace’. Vaudeville style shows and old fashioned melodramas were the flavours of the day, with audience participation encouraged.
A frequent star on the stage at The Music Hall was flamboyant pianist and entertainer Don Harvie. The Canadian-born performer would rise from the orchestra pit to accompany shows and lead rowdy sing-a-longs at the end of the night. Anyone lucky enough to have been to a show in the 70s will most likely remember Don Harvie well.
After The Music Hall closed in 1980, Australia’s very own Piano Man, John Watson took what he thought was going to be a brief gig that turned into a thirty-five year career. Watson became the house player at Minsky’s Piano Bar in the newly renamed Minsky Hotel. The bar quickly became a place for sing-a-longs and good old fashioned entertainment and Minsky’s has remained a firm feature locally ever since. The Minsky’s Piano Bar remains a popular place to rent for parties or events.
Best Neutral Bay bars and pubs
Let’s bring it back to the modern day now, and take a look at some of the best drinking establishments and places to socialise in Neutral Bay.
1. The Oaks
This hotel is right across the road from the Home Property Agents office on Military Road, hence it’s close to our hearts. An absolute local institution, The Oaks had a full renovation in 2013.
We love The Oaks because it has consistently been a fantastic place for a social drink or a get together with friends and clients over a meal. There is always something different going on, from trivia nights to acoustic sessions, Playstation nights and not forgetting the good old fashioned ‘Sunday Session’.
Monday is $20 Steak Night! Drop by for a meal at this iconic venue.
Located at 118 Military Rd, Neutral Bay NSW 2089. Visit The Oaks website for what’s on.
2. SoCal Neutral Bay
SoCal Neutral Bay delivers exactly what it says in the name, a little slice of Southern California right here in Sydney.
After a trip to the US, hospitality professionals Hamish Watts and Ben Carroll knew they had to bring some of that laid back ‘California cool’ home to Australia. Riffing on the Southern California surf scene, SoCal Neutral Bay is a cool spot for a function, event, lunch, night out, or just a good time.
Located at 1 Young St, Neutral Bay NSW 2089. Visit the SoCal Neutral Bay website for more information.
3. Honey Rider Neutral Bay
Visitors call Honey Rider Neutral Bay a ‘welcome surprise’ and love the ‘great cocktails and cool vibe’. With a name based on a James Bond girl and spirit of retro cool, this feedback is not surprising.
The tiny little bar and its team are also famous for standing up to the council and being a non-smoking venue well before the non-smoking laws were introduced.
Honey Ryder is located at 230/232 Military Rd, Neutral Bay NSW 2089 and is the perfect place to chill.
4. The Town & Country Bar
“Dance the line, don’t walk it.”
Everybody is somebody at The Town & Country Bar, where food, drink and good times are on offer.
Open six days a week and for private functions on Sundays, Town & Country has LGBT social groups on the second Monday of the month, trivia on Wednesdays and live music on Thursdays and Saturdays.
The menu keeps it simple with burgers and tortillas, there is a full selection of cocktails on offer and $10 mimosas on Thursdays.
Located at 2/350 Military Road Cremorne, NSW 2090. Visit The Town & Country Bar website for more information.
5. The Neutral Bay Club
A members club that is well worth joining if you live in the area, The Neutral Bay Club is a fantastic place for bowls and tennis but also offers so much more.
Priding itself on a fun, family atmosphere, this venue is a local community hub, and the ideal location for a relaxed get together over good food and a drink or two.
Located at 3 Westleigh St, Neutral Bay NSW 2089. Visit The Neutral Bay Club website for more information.
6. Henry’s Neutral Bay
Winner of a 2021 Australian Good Food Guide award, Henry’s Neutral Bay is a place to visit if you’re looking for nourishing food to accompany a cocktail or two with friends, or better still a romantic night out for two. The team at Henry’s maintains an emphasis on contemporary food that’s designed to be shared. You will find their sister venue if you head out of area to Cronulla.
Located at 2/19-25 Grosvenor St, Neutral Bay NSW 2089. Visit the Henry’s Neutral Bay website for more information.
7. Enoteca 128 Neutral Bay
Another haven for wine lovers, Enoteca 128 Neutral Bay is “a fantastic little hidden Italian restaurant with some seriously delicious food and a great vibe,” according to its Facebook reviews. With a sumptuous Italian meal to suit any dietary requirement, this little is a must-visit for any foodie in the Neutral Bay area.
Located at 11 Grosvenor Ln, Neutral Bay NSW 2089. Visit the Enoteca 128 website for more information.
8. The Pickled Possum
“But they closed down a couple of years ago!”
Exciting news, The Pickled Possum is set to reopen in the near future.
Sydneysiders are used to fronting up to their favourite bars, only to find a change of ownership, name or simply a lock on the door. This was the case for the Pickled Possum, which was a late night institution for close to 40 years but unfortunately had to shut their doors in 2019.
There is good news, however, for those who were heartbroken over the venue’s closure, with reports that it is set to reopen soon. Die-hard Pickled Possum fans will be extra happy over the fact that the interior has had a good clean but will still be very recognisable, with most of the familiar decor intact.
Located at 254 Military Road Neutral Bay, NSW, Australia 2089. Keep an eye on the Pickled Possum Facebook page for the big announcement.
Get to know your neighbours in Neutral Bay
We encourage you to head out and try these favourite Neutral Bay establishments and get to know not only your neighbourhood but your neighbours at the same time!
And, if you’re looking for property market insights or a place to rent, invest in or planning to sell your home, please do not hesitate to contact me, Anthony, or my father Gabi, at Home Property Agents.
